5 freelance writer red flags clients notice right away 🚩

Don't get tossed aside from the start! Avoid these common freelancer red flags.

When you reach out to, respond to, or have a call with a potential client, it’s essential that you give them every reason to move forward with you - and no reasons to kick you to the curb. The problem? Many freelance writers aren’t aware of their own red flags. You could be turning away great client work - without knowing why you’re losing out.

Today, I’m breaking down five of the most common freelance writer red flags that potential clients notice right away. These are entirely avoidable - you just have to know they’re there.

1. Your portfolio is nonexistent or poorly organized.

🚩 Signals lack of experience and organization

• Nonexistent: If you have no portfolio, clients will assume you either have no experience or haven’t bothered to put together a basic, essential tool for your business.

• Poorly organized: A messy, confusing portfolio - or one that doesn’t showcase the type of writing your target clients are looking for - signals you haven’t invested the time to present your work well. It can make you seem uninterested in working with them or inattentive to detail.

  Think of your portfolio like a résumé. If a client is flipping through a stack of portfolios, what makes yours worth reading more of? Your portfolio should be clear, easy to read, and tailored to the client’s needs.

2. You lack cohesive branding.

🚩 Signals lack of professionalism

Your website, Substack, and social media should feel like they belong to the same person and business. Inconsistent colors, tone, or visuals can confuse potential clients and make your brand seem lower-end compared to freelancers who present themselves consistently.

Clients want to see that you can organize, package, and present ideas beautifully - because that’s exactly what they’re hiring you to do for their project!

3. You don’t have an organized process.

🚩 Signals lack of experience and structure

If you give vague answers or can’t explain how you work, clients get nervous. Experienced freelance writers have a process - whether it’s onboarding steps, project milestones, or delivery timelines - and can explain it clearly.

Remember, many clients are looking for a writer to help them get organized. Showing you have a system from the start builds confidence that you won’t just take on the job - you’ll see it through.

4. Your emails, website, or portfolio have typos.

🚩 Signals lack of professionalism and attention to detail

It sounds obvious, but it happens all the time: freelancers don’t proofread the very materials they rely on to get hired.

A glaring typo on your website, portfolio, or pitch email immediately raises doubts. Clients want to believe you’re a stronger writer than they are - that’s a big reason for hiring you. Errors suggest you don’t check your work or value precision, both of which are crucial for earning trust as a writer. Check your work!

5. You claim to handle everything yourself.

🚩 Signals a money-chasing (not excellence-driven) mindset

If you position yourself as a premium writer, your focus should be on quality - not on taking every possible task just to land the job. Overpromising not only sets unrealistic expectations, it also makes clients wonder if you truly know what you’re doing. It’s always better to do more or accomplish something faster than a client is expecting than the reverse.

It’s okay to be confident on discovery calls, but avoid the “I do everything perfectly, right away” approach. Express that cover artists, typesetters, marketing experts, and editors need to be hired separately or that you outsource them yourself. Do not tell the client you can handle all of these things yourself - that’s a jack-of-all-trades mindset, which signals that you are not excellent at the thing you do, but rather a money-chaser just looking to land as many odd jobs as possible.

Hey! 👋 Thanks for reading this week's post. For more great tips on how to make writing your job, be sure to check out my Substack, The Ghost Post, here.